Director's Report to the National Advisory Council on Drug Abuse

February, 1998

Program Activities

Program Announcements/RFAs

On October 24, 1997, NIDA issued a Program Announcement entitled "Exploratory/ Developmental Grant Applications" (PA-98-004). The objective of the exploratory/ developmental mechanism (R21) is to encourage applications from individuals who are interested in testing innovative or conceptually creative ideas that are scientifically sound and may advance our understanding of drug abuse and addiction. Another objective is to encourage necessary initial development to provide a basis for important future research in a particular field.

In November, 1997, a new Program Announcement titled the "Minority Institutions' Drug Abuse Research Program (MIDARP)" was released. This announcement replaces the old MIRDP announcement and will be administered by the Special Populations Office.

On December 19, 1997, NIDA issued an RFA entitled "Neurobiological Effects of Drug Addiction Therapies" (DA-98-004). This research program is intended to support individual research project grants, mentored career development awards, and competitive supplements on the clinical, neurobiological effects of specific treatments for drug use disorders. The principal goal of the research to be supported through this initiative is to identify how structure and/or function of neuronal systems are affected by specific treatments for drug abuse disorders. Toward this goal, NIDA is particularly interested in proposals that will utilize brain imaging and/or other state-of-the-art approaches for assessment of alterations in human brain function and structure during and following behavioral and/or pharmacological therapy for drug disorders. The Letter of Intent Receipt date for this RFA is February 26, 1998 and the Application Receipt date is March 26, 1998.

Other Program Activities

IND Filed for Anti-Cocaine Vaccine

The ImmuLogic Corporation, has filed an IND and received permission to conduct a Phase I clinical trial of an anti-cocaine vaccine. ImmuLogic has received support for this research via a SPIRCAP grant from NIDA's Medications Development Division.

Review of Phase II Trial of Seligelene

The Medications Development Division convened an outside consultant group to review data from a Phase II trial of seligelene for the treatment of cocaine dependence. Based on their review of the data, and an overview of statistical methods currently acceptable to the FDA, the group recommended that a larger and more definitive trial be undertaken.

Review Activities

New Guidelines for Review of Research Grant Applications

OEPR has prepared new guidelines for the review of unsolicited research grant applications, in conformance with the new guidelines released by NIH, effective for submissions on or after October 1, 1997. The guidelines have been provided to Scientific Review Groups (SRGs) and discussed at recent SRG meetings. Training on implementation of the new guidelines was held for NIDA SRAs on January 6, 1998, and the new guidelines will be implemented in the February/March reviews.

Neurosciences Integration Activity

The neurosciences integration activity is nearly completed. Twenty one new study sections have been created, and these have been grouped into three Initial Review Groups (IRGs). Three SRAs, Drs. Mary Custer, Jim Debbas and Syed Husain, and two GTAs, Ms. Sandy Camman and Ms. Sharon Dyson, from NIDA have been reassigned to the Center for Scientific Review (CSR). Reviewers are now being selected and the first review of applications by these new committees will take place in June of 1998 for applications submitted in February/March 1998. More information can be found on the CSR home page (http://www.csr.nih.gov).

Training/Q & A Sessions

Dr. Rita Liu organized an information and "question and answer" session on the integration of neuroscience application reviews for the Society for Neuroscience 1997 Annual Meeting in New Orleans.

Dr. Gamil Debbas presented two lectures on extramural procedures and the review of grant applications to the Division of Intramural Research in Baltimore. These lectures were provided to train post doctoral fellows on extramural issues that are often not addressed in NIH intramural programs so that they will be aware of the basics of extramural grants when they leave NIH.

OEPR sponsored a training seminar to update NIDA staff on the ending of the R29 (FIRST award) mechanism and the reasons for that change. Changes in procedures for review of R13 (Conference) applications were also discussed.

NIDA's Conference Grant (R13) Committee

The NIDA-wide committee formed to develop and implement procedures for the review of R13 (Conference Grant) applications continued to meet and define procedures. The first "in house" review of R13 applications was conducted on January 8th. The committee is chaired by Dr. William Grace (OEPR) and is coordinated by Ms. Jackie Porter (OEPR). Members are Drs. Cindy Miner (OSPC), Charles Sharp (DBR), Dorynne Czechowicz (DCSR), Jacques Normand (DEPR), and Jamie Biswas (MDD), as well as Mr. Noble Jones (OoA), and Ms. Catherine Mills (GMB).

New Study Sections

Planning continues for the creation of two new study sections, one for medications development applications and one for career development applications. The career development group will review training, career development, and fellowship applications from across all NIDA scientific areas and will begin operation with the February 1, 1998 application receipt date. Dr. Mark Swieter will be the SRA for that committee. The medications development committee will review applications for the development of new pharmacotherapies for drug abuse. Dr. Khursheed Asghar will be the SRA.